Apparatus for indicating or measuring the rate of flow of fluid through pipes, or for detecting leakage.



G. J. GIBBS. APPARATUS FOR INDIGATING OB. MEASURING THE RATE OF FLOW 0F FLUID THROUGH PIPES, OR FOR DETECTING LEAKAGE.

APPLIUATION FILED DEO. 10, 1909.

1,098,247, PatentedMay 26, 1914.

8 SHEETS-SHEET l.

G. J. GIBBS. APPARATUS FOR INDIGATING 0R MEASURING THE RATE OF FLOW OP FLUID THROUGH PIPES, 0B. POE DETECTING LEAKAGE.

APPLIUATION FILED DEC. 10, 1909.

1,098,247, Patented May 26, 1914.

3 SHEETSSHEBT 2.

G. J. GIBBS.

Patented May 26, 1914,

3 SHEETS-SHBET 3.

APPARATUS FOR INDIGATING 0R MEASURING THE RATE OF FLOW OF FLUID THROUGH PIPES, OR FOR DETECTING LEAKAGE.

APPLIOATION FILED DEG.10, 1909. 1,098,247.,

Vilgesses run snares PAT GEORGE JAMES GIBBS, 0F PRESTON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR INDICATING 0R MEASURING THE RATE OF FLOW 0F FLUID THROUGH PIPES, OR FOR DETECTING LEAKAGE.

Specification of Letters lPatent.

Patented May 26, 1914.

Application :fi1ed December 10, 1909. Serial No. 532,346.

, This invention relates to apparatus for indicating or measuring the rate of flow of fluids, through pipes, and provides means whereby a Wide range of rates of flow may be conveniently indicated and measured.

In carrying the invention into effect, I indicate .or measure the rate of flow of fluid passing through a pipe by disposing in such pipe 9. hand-operated valve or controlling device, which can be more or less opened or closed at the moment of making an observation, to throttle more or less the stream of fluid, and employing in combination with such valve, a device adapted to indicate on any convenient scale or dial, the amount of such opening or closing necessary to pro duce a certa n definite prearranged small loss of pressure due to such" temporary or momentary throttling. I employ this 'indicated amount of opening or closing as my measure of the rate at which the fluid is passing through the pipe. The dial or scale is graduated in any convenient units, and the graduations refer only to that particular pressure drop or loss for which they have been marked. When the apparatus is used to measure the rate of flow of an expansive fluid such as air or steam the dial or scale may be graduated with a multiplicity of scales to cover any desired range of Working pressures of the expansive fluid but rei'erring oniy to that particular pressure drop for which they are graduated. The definite prearranged small pressure drop for which a scale of the apparatus is graduated may be indicated by any convenient device such as a manometer U tube or by pressure gages.

It is common knowledge that measurements of varying rates of flow may be made by means of the varying pressure drop caused byv the throttling of the stream through constricted orifices or other forms of obstruction to the stream. passage ways in combination with auto matic floating vanes whose displacements Tapering.

are due to the varying rates of flow are also used to indicate such rates of flow. Inefiicient stop valvesthe inefliciency causing a measurable pressure drophave also been proposed for the same purpose. All such devices entail a permanent and constant obstructlonor inefficiency and excepting the floating vane devices fail to indicate rates of flow which are small in comparison with their full capacity. I make my hand operated throttling device so eflicient that ex-.'

cepting at such times as observations are actually'being made the inefiiciency and consequentpressure drop is practically m'l even at the highest rates of flow within the capacity of the pipe to which my'devices are applied and my particular combinations onable me to measure the most minute rates of flow even through pipes of very great capacity. My devices depend entirely upon movements of the throttling member imparted by the hand of the observer, and the indications of rates of flow are measured entirely with reference to the amount of such movements, as shown upon a dial; in

conjunction with a predetermined pressure difference indicated by the manometer.

The invention will be understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a section of one form ofthe apparatus; FigsQ, 3 and i are vertical section, front elevation and cross section respectively of another form, the part at one side of the dial D in Fig. 4 being a cross section on line Y Z, (Fig. 2), and the part at other side of the dial D being a cross section on line W K, (Fig. 3). Figs. hand 6 are front sectional elevation, and end sectional elevation; showing one method of applying the invention to valves of the sluice gate type. Fig. 7, shows a portion of a dial with multiple scales.v Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are respectively, sectional elevation, end view and sectional plan of another form or application of the invention.

In Fig. l, A, A? is the pipe through which the fluid is passing in the direction indicated by the arrows from the source of supply to the consuming apparatus. B is the body of a plug cool: of which C is the plug which can be turned within thebody in the usual manner to open or close more or less the passage for the fluid. The index I correspondin exactly to the position of the "latter case than in the former.

plug when t e passage isjust completely closed. E E are two-small tubesin connection with the pipe, A-A one on each side of the stop cock body liythese tubes] communicate respectively,.as shown, with."

stant pressure drop exists and the correct the two legs of the manometer F, 'which,

for my purpose is not -proyided with. the usual graduated'scalebutkhas two marks only G and H to represent one definite difference of level of the columnsof liquid in the two legs of the manometer. "By more or less closin the passage way through the cook, the di ereuce of level of the two columns of liquid'can be made equal to the dis tance.between the two'lin'es G and H, be cause as the passage of the fluid from A to A is more or less throttled, the diflerence of pressures ofthe fluid in Av and A will be more or less. The small pressure difference indicated by the difference of level of the two columns of liquid in the manometer F represents the head which drives the stream of fluid throughthe constriction of the cock. To produce the onedefinite pressure diflerenc'e when a small quantity of fluid is passing, the passage will have to be more constricted than it will when a large quantity is passing, in other words the cock must be more open and the index D will point to a larger figure on the dial in the The dial is preferably graduated by connecting the device in series with some 'standard'measuring apparatus and marking the various points on the dial with reference to the indications of such standard. I sometimes use a common gas meter and pass the gas or' air through the meter and my measuring device consecutively, always taking care when making comparisons that the index D is set to sucha position that the definite pressure diflerence G H is indicated by the manometer F. Figs. 2, 3 and 4 show another arrangement in which the letters correspond to the same parts as in Fig. 1. .E is a small passage communicating from the pipev A, to the vertical tube J through a passage formed in the body of the small p'lugcock K; E is another small passage.

and the tube J is in connection with the pipe A" through the passage E so that when any gas is fiowin through the pipes A A and the cock C 1s suficiently closed,

refer.

sure difference to which the dial indications So long as a constant quant1ty,.-of water is contained in the glass tube or chamher the bubblewill appear when one conquantity. ofwater may always be observed with regard to marks made on the side of the glass tube for that purpose. I do not restrict myself to any particular pressure d'iflerehce ut'any one scale on the dial refers only to that one particular pressure difference for which it has been made, and I preferably employ such a small pressure difference that it is a negligible proportion of the total workin pressure of the'fluid to. be measured. T eparticular pressure difference for which'the dial is graduated would in some cases be noted on the dial for permanence of record, for instance in inches of water or lbs. per sq. inch, while in the case of such manometers as are described with reference to Figs. 1 and2 the lines G H'would'preferably be marked on the glass or'in the'partieular form of manometer described with reference to Fig. 2, I prefer to place or form ring or collar 0 around" the tube J to serve as a very definite and easily distinguished gage of the depth the tube J should dip into the water. The plug K is capable of being rotated about its vertical axis to interrupt the passages E E to prevent the working pressurev closed. In the manometer tube or chamber I may use other fluids than water, for instance when I am measuring the flow of steam or water through the pipe A "A I prefer to put 'mercury into the bottom of the glass tube or chamber N and when the prearranged pressure drop exists water oan be seen bubbling up through the surface of the mercury; in such cases the small pipes and upper part of the glasstube are filled with water. I y

In Figs. 5" and 6, A and A are the pipes conveymg which may be opened and closed in any customarymanner e. g. by means of the screw P and hand wheel Q. The amount of open ing of thesluice C is indicated by the index 'finger D on the dial D, the index finger being carried on the spindle R on which is fixed the pulle S; the cord T connects the sluice G with t e'pulley S and thus any motion of the sluice C is indicated on the dial D, and the finger D is so arranged as to,

the fluidto and from the stop valve which in this caseis a sliding gate or sluice G which slides in agate holder B andsage way past'the sluice is completely closed- The manometer F (Fig. 5 1s constructed substantially as shown in ig. 2, and the connecting 1pipes E E. are each provided with a sma stopcock, for the purpose of cutting ofi all connection between thev pipes graduated with reference; t

sired. Thedial D should I);

volumetric meter as described a in relation to Figs. 1, 2 and 3. To a dd'to the sensitiveness of the -instrument" especiall' when fluid is passing at very small rate; sometimes give a special form to the closing edge a a of the sluice so that a comparatively long travel oi the sluice G and index I) may;

1 correspond tofsmall change of'area--,of-,pas-

through the sto snsitiveness o th'el'instruinent sage way may befconveniently increased, a a shows ,such 'a-special form of sluice three'posi tions viz. about half 'op'en,fand nearlyfand. -.c mpl 'etely closed respectively. Referring Fig.5. the pipe A.A "may be anexisting gas i -or' water main, or the like, fitted witha stop 'vanced or wit .50

Valve with as is sometimes "the case, ardevice for indicating the amount of opening-of;

the valve ;'-to such I add the pipes E E and; manometer, or difi'erential pressure gage, to

show when one predetermined; difference of pressure, exists in the fluid passing through the pipes A At and I then use the indicated amount of opening of the valve as a measure of the rate .at which fluid is passing through.

the pipe as described above.

Another form of the invention is shown by;

Figs. 8., 9, 10; this. arrangement is particu-' larly useful for measuring the rate of flow of air to or from any apparatus as for instance an air compressor. or blower. Tov

measure the air passing into such machines the pipe A is connected 'to the inlet passage of the machine so that when the machine is working, all the'air passing into it goes in through the space between the sluices C C which slide across the mouth of the pipe A being guided b the guides B B and adhd rawn by means of the screws P. P and the hand wheels S S The sluices or guides are provided with scales so that the amount of openingcan be accurately measured, or the scales may he graduated empirically with reference to any convenient measuring apparatus or to a meter previously standardized to readrlirectly the rate of flow in any convenient units. When the passage way between the sluices is sufiiciently constricted the, pressure within the pipe A will be less than the pressure of the atmosphere by the constant amount indicated on the manometer F as shown by the lines G, H, the leg J being .at its extremity open to the atmosphere; the scale reading on either 'B' or B would then be the measure of the rate of flow of air into the pipe A and therefore to the air compressor or blower.

When the instrument is to be used'with expansive fluids under a wide range of working pressures I prefer to provide a range of graduated arcs on the dials each graduated; p (for one particularworking pressure as shown 7 A A and the manometer. when so de ym' Fig.7, in'which the index 1) extends over Y ingjp'ressure of the fluid in the pipe A A",

Figs. 1, 2-, 5. 'Likepoints on each scale are j then I joined a 2020, 'et cetera, whence the dial indications Hare-made available for intermediate pressures, .should be clearly understood that anyparticular scale or range of scales on a dial ,refers only toone particular difference of pressurein the pipes or passages E E i. e at the manometer or pressure difference indicating device; Y

This-invention is particularl useful for ,measuring the rateof flow 0 gas or air through pipes, and for showingwhether leakages exist in the pipes, as'n'o rate of flow is so small that it cannot be detected and measuired, for the passage through the cooker va ve'can alwa s be more and more "closed; and cpnstricte until the required pressure difference is attained, and even when the throttling device is completely by curves as shown, 1010,

closed the minutest imaginable leak which. is ordinarily'unmeasurable will cause a bubbling through the liquid in the manometer perience:. or comparison with an ordinary,"

tube shown in Figs. 2, 3 and-5 and after. ex-

volumetricr.meter the. rate of bubblingfcamj be .used asan approximate indication of-the amount of 'such'leakafge. 1

Any suitable arrangement of [tubes E E and any convenient form of instrument or ice} instruments for indicating the pressure differences may be used.

In practice the method of using instru-.

ments constructed according to my invention is as follows :The ma n cook or sluice 0 being fully open, the passages E E also a open and a stream of fluid under any work ing pressure passing from any source of supply through the pipesA' A to the consuming apparatus, then'at such time as it is desired to know the rate at which the fluid is passing throughthe pipe A A the cock or sluice C is gradually closed until the 7 pressure in the pipe A falls below the pres sure in the pipe A by the predetermined amountwhich is indicated on and by the, manometer or other differential pressure in-' dicating device. Then, the dial having been previously graduated, the index finger D will show on the dialthe rate at which fluid is passing. I

- I declare that what I claim is 1.;Inap'paratlis for measuring and indieating the rate of flow of fluid passing through a pipe, the combination with the pipe of a hand operated throttle valve disposed therein, an index and means for moving it in conjunction with the throttle valve,

a dial cooperating with the index to indicate the amount of opening of the throttle valve and a device for indicating the definite prearranged small pressure drop for which the when the main stream is throttled by the valve a bubble will appear at the end of the second small tube in the liquid when the predetermined pressure difi'erence exists.

3. In apparatus for measuring or indicating the rate of How of a fluid passing through a pipe, to any consuming apparatus, such pipe having a hand operated valve disposed therein, the combination therewith of a manometer embodying a U-tube comoeaaar H to represent the prearranged ,difierence' of level of the two columns of liquid orto indicate the correct quantity of liquidin the manometer.

4-. In apparatus for measuring or indicating the rate of flow of a fluid passing through a pipe to any consuming apparatus, such pipe having a throttling valve disposed therein, the combination therewith of a manometer, embodying a chamber having tubes which communicate respectively from above the liquid in the chamber, and below the surface of, the liquid therein, with the pipe at either side of the valve, the said manometer having marks G H to represent the pre-arranged diiference of level of the two columns of liquid or to indicate the correct quantity of liquid in the manometer,

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name this th day of November 1909, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

enoeen JAMES GIBBS,

Witnesses:

G; G. DYMOND, T. S. SHILLINGTON, 

